Thing is surley these reviews will be out after Kinect is released, so MS only seem to be playing a zero sum game, because Kinect needs to keep selling, it cant just sell on the first day. either way, it does seem like they want to prevent people from realising what it is, how good it is, etc, so this is also counter productive in a way. core gamers maybe reluctant to buy something they dont know enough about.

See, this is why I hate Microsoft. They're playing with damn dirty tricks to get consumers buying their products. the did the same with Windows, so shouldn't they do the same with Xbox?

Another recent example were the fake FFXIII screenshots where PS3 version screenshots were labeled as Xbox 360 screenshots to cover up that it was an inferior version. (I'm purely talking graphics wise here). It could have been a slipup purely from Square-Enix, but my common sense tells me Microsoft was somehow involved in this.

Really? - To end users, that doesn't sound right. To showrooms maybe. 

Anyway, if MS is not sending out review copies of the hardware and software lineup to publications that's not nice of them, but I suspect that this will not make much of a difference in the end, just like antenagate didn't do much to damage Apple's record quarter.

It doesn't need a review for me, I'm going to play it at their roadshow in Edinburgh (Scotland) in ten days time =P

Far from hiding it, they have been letting people play it by doing massive roadshows in the UK as actually having a go yourself and spreading it by word of mouth is what Microsoft are after.

Details about these would be nice. Everyone praised that dance title, so if they are showing that and the raft game and the running in place game and the big tiger game only, and for about 10 minutes in  total per person, the flaws will surely be well hidden under the wow factor. Not exactly a tool to an informed decision.

Just Dance says hi.

I was right but you obviously missed the point with your eagerness to try to prove me wrong (better luck next time).  All three of those games had embargoes that were lifted.

http://dailygamesnews.com/2010/05/super-mario-galaxy-2-review-embargo.html

Those of you waiting to find out just how awesome Super Mario Galaxy 2 is gonna be can find out on Monday as the review embargo is lifted at 6am BST. All initial previews have been positive and it's due for release in Europe on June 11th.

http://www.gamebanshee.com/news/96548-mass-effect-2-reviews.html

The review embargo has officially been lifted for those websites that received early copies of Mass Effect 2 (not GameBanshee), so it comes as no surprise that a couple of critiques are already online.

http://www.lazygamer.net/uncharted-2-reviews-from-around-the-world/

Uncharted 2 review embargo lifts...

There's a difference between an embargo and not letting them review the games at all

I think Microsoft is RIGHT!!!!

Take a look at the past:  Introduced a marketing video about Knectic 3 years before it launch, just to get attention of the market and keep some momentum...

Knectic got everybody attentions, and deserve it, it´s really innovative.

What´s happening now: people start to think and put things together, understand Knectic limitations, etc..etc.. so the hype must be secure at least until cristhmas...

I believe knectic 1.0 is very limited to some type of movements, so, you will handle many games with same gestures, LOL..

go Microsft, keep rich and growing, you brought LIVE and gamers got better online services, now you bring Knectic and make toher companies MOVE. :)

MS is doing great job innovating on gamming, I respect a lot that!

Again one thing is a embargo where u can play but you cant say , and other is dont even get a review copy.